Clothes drier



March 25, 1952 Filed Jan. 23, 1948 A. R. CONSTANTINE CLOTHES DRIER '7Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

ARTHUR R. CONSTANT\NE.

ATTORNEX March 25, 19 2 A. R. CONSTANTINE 2,590,295

CLOTHES DRIER Filed Jan. 25, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ARTHUR R CONSTANTXNE ATTORNEY March 1952 A. R. CONSTANTINE 2,590,295

CLOTHES DRIER Filed Jan. 25, 1948 7 Sheefis-Sheet 3 ARTHUR R.CONSTANTINE,

BY Y

' ATTORN Y,

March 1952 A. R. CONSTANTINE CLOTHES DRIER 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan.23, 1948 INVENTOR. AQTHUR R.CON$TANT'\NE.

A TTORNE X March 1952 A. R. CONSTANTINE 2,590,295

CLOTHES DRIER I 7 Filed Jan. 23, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY,

ART u R. CONSTANTiNE.

March 25, 1952 Filed Jan. 23, 1948 A. R. CONSTANTINE CLOTHES DRIER 7Sheets-Sheet 6 IN V EN TOR.

ARTHUR R. CONSTANTWE ATTOFZNEX March 1952 A. R. CONSTANTINE CLOTHESDRIER '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 23, 1948 INVENTOR. A/ETHUA l2.CONSTANT/NE,

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 25, 1952 2,590,295 CLOTHESLDYRIER Arthur R.Constantine, South Bend, Ind., assignor, by mesne assignments, to AvcoManufacturing Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of DelawareApplication January 23, 1948, Serial No. 3,999

1 Claim. (CI. 34-75) This invention relates generally to mechanism fordrying 'of clothing and other fabrics and is described herein as adryingmechanism capable of drying clothes in the same unit in which theywere washed.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a laundry dryingmachine with a system for circulating heated air through the tub of themachine in order to effect the drying of the clothes contained in thetub and providing also for condensing moisture and the carrying away oflint from the machine without exhausting moisture and lint into theatmosphere of the "room.

-It is a further object to provide a machine which is operableseparately either as a washing machine or as a drying machine, or whichmay be used in its combined form to wash and then dry a tub full ofclothing.

Another object is to provide a laundry drying ina'chine with a heatingelement to heat the air in a circulating conduit which air is thencirculated through the tub of the machine in order to dry the clothingcontained therein and "subsequently carried through a condensing portionof the circulating conduit, a circulating element being located betweenthe condensing portion and the heating element portion of the conduit.

" Still a further object is to provide a System for condensing moistureand removing lint from the air in" the circulatory system of a clothesdryer by exposing the circulating air to a film of water carried on theinner surface of a portion of the circulating conduit.

These and other objects and features of this invention will appear morefully in the detailed description and in the drawings forming a parthereof and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view of a machine employing the mechanism for dryingaccording to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front view of the same machine as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top view of the machine.

3 showing the screened opening to allow entry of air into the clothescylinder.

Figure 9 is a section and view showing the condenser tube.

Referring to the drawings, a tub ID has a clothes cylinder I I mountedfor rotation therein. In this case the clothes cylinder H has aperforated outer periphery and a screened or perforated front wall I2which will allow air to enter therein. The clothes cylinder II ismounted I for rotation and is supported from its back wall andtransmission 16. is provided with an opening which leads to a within thetub by means of a shaft l3, and rotated by pulley 13A, belt [4, electricmotor 15 The bottom of the tub sump H which connects with a tube N3 ofrelatively large diameter which is capable of carrying air and which isherein described as a condenser tube IS. The tube 18 i curved from thebottom of the sump I! in a generally vertical direction and is mountedat the rear of the tub 1 and its top end connects with a central inletportion of a centrifugal type blower housing l9. Shown particularly inthe top view in Figure 4, the blower housing [9 has a tangential outletinto a horizontally positioned conduit 20, the blower inlet and outletthereby effecting a right angle turn in the path of air travel from thevertical tube l8, Figure l, to the horizontal conduit 20. The crosssection Figure 7 shows the blower housing I 9, conduit 20 and a blowerwheel 2|. This blower wheel 2i is rotated by an electric motor 22,Figures 1, 2, 4, positioned above the blower wheel and driven through ashaft 23. The horizontally positioned conduit 20 has a pluralityofelectric heating elements 24 supported therein, electrical connections'25 for such heating elements being positioned on the outside of theconduit 23 as shown in Figure 7 and Figure 4. The conduit 20 connectswith a con- 7 hector casting 26 at the front of the machine Figure 5' isa section through the air inlet the tub with the closure for the openingin positi on. 'Figure 6 is a section showing. the opening tothe tub withthe closure in open position.

Figure'7 i a sectionthrough the heater and 'air conduit above the tub.Figure 8' is a front view of the clothes cylinder are connected by theblower housing [9.

and the passage is formed around the end of the tub l0 into an inletopening 27, Figure 5, which is positioned in the front wall of the tub I0 and opens on and into the screened front wall l2 of the clothescylinder ll. Thus if air is forced by the blower 2| and is carried pastthe heating element 24 it will be forced into the tub l8 and through thescreened front wall [2 of cylinder II and onto the clothes to be driedwhich are tumbling in cylinder ll during its rotation. and 2, thevertical condensing tube portion. l8

As shown by reference to Figures 1 and the horizontal heater conduitportion 20 The machine. through a door opening 38.

blower housing I9 is of the usual centrifugal type with inlet at thecenter and with tangential outlet as shown in Figure 4. The arrangementfor connection of the vertical tube I8 and the horizontal conduit 28 atsubstantially right angles to each other is such that the top of conduitI8 connects to the center inlet portion of the housing I9 and thehorizontal conduit 2.0 connects to the tangential outlet of the housingI9 and thus efiects the 90 turn in the direction of the air flow. Thenecessary 90? turn in the conduit system to fit the conduit to the tubis thus accomplished through the blower housing, making it unnecessaryto provide this change in direction of flow by special meanswhich wouldrequire curved tube sections or other special arrange ments requiringextra space and complication of construction with added resistance toair flow.

It may be desirable to provide a means for closing the opening 21 whenthe machine is used for washing and this may be accomplished as shown inFigures and 6 by means of a hinged door 28 which is integral with ashaft 28A extending through the casting 26 and moveable by a handle2813. Figure 5 shows the hinged door 28 in a position closing off theconduit 28 and connector casting 26 from the opening 21 into the tub IIIthus preventing washwater from entering conduit during washingoperation. Figure 6 shows the door 28 in the open position for dryingoperation. In order that the door 28 in its open position will notinterfere with the free passage of air through connector casting 26, acover 29 on the connector casting is provided with a depression 29a intowhich the door 28 fits when in the open positionshown in Figure '0. Theoperation of door 28 may be manual or by suitable automatic mechanicalmeans as desired. With door 28 open there is provision for circulationof air from the bottom of the tub II'I through the sump II upwardthrough the condenser tube I8, through the blower wheel 2|, through theconcluit 28 and over the heating elements 24, through the casting 26from outlet 21 into the cylinder II as previously mentioned.

Near the top of the vertical tube I8 an opening 30 is provided intowhich a relatively small water tube 3|, Figure 9, is inserted, the tube3| being fed from a water valve 32 connected to water supply underpressure, the valve 32 being preferably of the solenoid. operated typeas shown, the solenoid being shown at 33 in Figures 9 and 2!. As shownparticularly in Figure 9 the direction of the inlet 38 and the tube 3|relative ,to. the wall of the condenser tube. I 8 is such as to causewater to fiow around and down the inside of the tube I8, the waterflow-direction being substantially tangent to the inner wall of tube I8.Thus the water will descend by gravity in the tube I8 followinggenerally the inner wall thereof covering the wall in a thin film, orsheet until it reaches the sump I'I. Asshown in Figure 3 there is a.drain 34 which is controlled by drain valve 35 operated by solenoid 36which on opening of the drain valve 35 will allow the liquid to flowinto a continuously rotating pump 31. Thus water injected into the :tubeI8 and falling by gravity around the inner surface of the tube I8 willeventually be carried out and pumped out the drain by the action of thedrain pump 31. v

In the operation of the machine the clothes to be dried are carried inthe clothes cylinder I I.

The clothes may be inserted in the front of the The machine :shown,although it may operate separately 4 as a dryer, may also be acombination washer and dryer. The drying operation is herein underconsideration and the clothes are assumed to be in the condition theynormally assume after washing is completed, that is with approximatelyequal their weight in contained water. The motor I5 is assumed to be inoperation to rotate the cylinder II at tumbling speed throughtransmission IB, belt I4 and pulley I3. Suitable electrical circuitsactuate the heating elements 24 and also, with electrical currentsupplied, the motor 22 is in rotation to cause the blower wheel 2|to-rotate and thereby set up a circulation of air which passes over theheating elements 24, out the opening 21, and onto the tumbling clothesinth'e clothes cylinder I I thereby taking up moisture therefrom. Themoisture saturated air then passes'out the sump I1 and into thecondenser tube I8 and again into the blower 2| and over the heatingelements 24 once again. The heated air will take up moisture from theclothes as they tumble by rotation of the clothes cylinder, and afterthe heated air passes over the. clothes, as above described, the air isforced upward through the condenser tube I8. The solenoid 33 is actuatedcontinuously during drying and the water from the. tube 3| forms a filmon. the inner surface of the tube I8 as it travels downward leaving roomfor passage of air in the center of the tube I8 in an upward directionat thev same time that the water is traveling downward. Thus the coolingefiect of the water will condense moisture from the vapor laden aircoming into tube I8 from the tub I0 and the water film will also take uplint particles which are carried in the air and these lint particleswith the condensed moisture will be carried away by the film of water inthe condenser tube I8, the water being pumped away from the sump I"! bythe pump 37.

Air circulating through the condensing portion of the tube I8 is carriedinto the heating portion 20 by the blower wheel 2| which is here shownas positioned between the vertical condensing portion of the conduit I8and the horizontal heat.- ing portion of the conduit 20. As mentioned,the horizontal heating portion 28 of the conduit connects directly withthe front inlet 21 which inlet is directly in front of the open screenedfront wall I2 of the rotatable clothes cylinder II.

The vapor laden air which is drawn from the bottom of the tub throughthe sump I1 and into the vertical condensing tube I8 will. have a majorportion of its vapor removed therefrom inasmuch as the film of Water onthe inner wall of tube I8 is a condensing medium. The central portion ofthe tube also carries vapor laden air and all of the air flowing in tubeI8 is reduced in temperature and because of the drop in temperature theability of the air to retain moisture is reduced and condensationresults. Because of the recirculation forced by continuous operation,the air, having a large portion of the vapor removed therefrom is againheated in the heating region 28 after passing through the blower wheel2| and thus enabled to take up moisture again as it fiows into theclothes cylinder I I.

The collection and carrying away of lint with the condensing water intube. I8 is a major and important feature of the arrangement as theproblem of lint disposal is a major one in any clothes dryer. Althoughthe description herein has been confined to the portion ofthe machinenecessary to provide operation as a dryer, the

arrangement is particularly adaptable for use as the drying mechanismportion of a combined washer and dryer, and the mechanism shown includesthe tub in and the cylinder II of a type which may be used in a washingmachine of the horizontal axis type. Also the driving motor I5 as shownherein is preferably provided with two speed transmission [6, aspreviously mentioned. This transmission disclosed herein employs twospeeds, one speed for washing and tumble drying, and another higherspeed for centrifugal ex traction of water following normal washingoperation prior to the drying procedure mentioned in this description.The washing machine tub shown is also provided with a water mixing valve40, a water inlet tube 4| and a float chamber MA with a suitable switchmounted thereon for controlling liquid level in the tub 10. which are apart of the washing machine apparatus and as such do not form a part ofthe specific dryer combination disclosed herein. The sump I! may servethe dual purpose of the sump for the dryer, to carry away condensingwater with lint and also serves as the sump for the washing machine. Thedrain connection and drain valve, and drain pump previously mentionedmay be used in the washing operation to carry away the wash water and inthe dryer operation to carry away the condensing water.

Suitable automatic controls, or if desired manual controls closingelectrical circuits may be used to operate the mechanism shown in thisdisclosure. The primary purpose of the disclosure however, is not toshow automatic operation, but to show the structure and arrangement,together with the operation of the drying mechanism which, it isassumed, is put in operation by provision of suitable electricalconnections to the several units to place them in operation for drying:including the driving motor i5, the condensing water solenoid 33, theair circulation motor 22, the electrical heating coils 24 and the drainvalve solenoid 36.

It is therefore apparent that although the dryer mechanism has beendisclosed as a specific type of machine found practical in operation itis not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the specificembodiment shown herein, or otherwise than by the terms of the appendedclaim.

I claim:

In a dryer, the combination of a chamber including a cylindrical tub anda rotatable perforate inner clothes tumbling member, said tub having anoutlet near the bottom thereof, a conduit communicating with said outletand having a substantially vertical and elongated cylindrical portionextending outside of said tub from said outlet to a position adjacentthe top portion of said tub, water inlet means positioned at said topportion to inject water tangentially onto the inner surface of saidvertical portion, a transverse conduit interconnected with said topportion, a heating chamber in said transverse conduit communicating withthe interior of said tub and the top of said vertical portion, and aircirculating means located between said top portion and said transverseconduit, said circulating means circulating air from said tub outletthrough said vertical portion and said heating chamber and thence backinto said tub, whereby moisture may be condensed from and lint may becollected from air circulating in said vertical portion of said conduitby contact with the water cooled inner surface thereof.

ARTHUR R. CONSTANTINE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

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